Important Things Caregivers Should Do

Important Things Caregivers Should Do

in order to remain

A Help for Alzheimer’s Victims

Important Things Caregivers Should Do relative to providing a progressively higher degree of ongoing Alzheimer’s Disease care. What reasonable responses and direction might we offer our Alzheimer’s Victim?

- Daily -
What do I do in order to
maintain a positive focus…
For the Victim AND myself?

Alzheimer’s disease is THE problem. The problem is NOT your loved one. Therefore Caregivers, include a healthy level of patience in your learning curve. With patience, you discover that the development of your Caregiver skills will, in time, smooth out the preponderance of the initial Alzheimer’s related difficulties you’ll face.

vHave you ever been obliged to respond to the constant questions of a two year old? ‘Why?’ ‘What?’ ‘Why?’ “What?’ ‘Why?’ All day long? It’s sometimes difficult to remain patient under such a barrage, isn’t it? Yet, with a child you don’t get overly upset because your intent is to educate. A person afflicted with Alzheimer’s though, will likely never learn. The problem compounds because at their age, you’d think they already know the answers. Particularly since you’ve repeatedly told them. Among your list of ‘traits to acquire’ then, you should quickly learn to parry repetitive questions toward what might be a more relevant or positive direction of the moment. By so doing you might well save yourself many headaches. HINT: Yes, respond. Value them by your response. But in your response change the subject and their immediate thought process to one you know either excites them… and you, or brings into better focus that which you are at that moment attempting to accomplish. You will have solved the problem. For the moment.

Initially though, until one learns how to parry their questions, a high degree of repetition often causes the Caregiver to not only become internally anxious and inwardly ‘on guard’ expecting more, but sometimes quite overt in their responses. Such hard to conceal irritation within the voice and spirit of your response though, can bring about anguish within the heart and mind of the person afflicted with Alzheimer’s. And then again within you. Thus prompts a vicious mental and emotional circle, not only of words and frustrations, but the escalation of internal heartache for both parties. But again – if you’ve learned how to be reasonably successful in changing the direction of the afflicted person’s thought process, then you’ve solved the problem before it became a problem.

The largest part of me, and likely you as well, eventually relaxes and looks back at these frustrations knowing we’ve let them get to us in a way they shouldn’t have. After all, they are merely (expected) inconvenient stepping stones along the path of each day’s events. And really, that’s all they are. Their constant questioning isn’t anything to really get excited about because the questions or comments themselves are almost always inconsequential in that they usually have nothing to do with providing the best aspects of health and safety. But… they do have a tremendous amount of influence over mental and emotional well being of your loved one, inconsequential or not.

In advance, figure out ways to circumvent trials of that nature. Figure out ways to satisfactorily respond to them as well as change the subject to one that is more in line with the goals you are trying to accomplish at that moment. Keep your mind active and strive to discover ways to favorably progress through the day by outmaneuvering them and changing the direction their mind will then travel. As often as you are able, make a game out of it… even if the Caregiver is the only one aware that a game is taking place. And always remember that it is ultimately to your advantage not to limit the favorable acknowledgment your provide the Victim and their concern of the moment.

Wouldn’t it be nice to limit anxiousness in one or more arenas of care giving… even a little? Without your thoughtful intervention (by answering and changing the subject) both your and their emotions will not remain on an even keel. Take the lead. There are ways. Look at the direction of your… communication …and see if by fine tuning your responses toward what you want to accomplish in them you might be able to better control anxiousness… for both your sakes!

In the next section, Daily Incidentals, you’ll discover bits and pieces of information which just might help you in your continuing endeavor to provide an ongoing positive relationship with your Alzheimer’s Patient. The examples offered are but a few of the things I’ve learned that might either help your positive progression outright, or point you in a direction of thought that is more peculiar to your own atmosphere of influence.

Some helpful hints…

‘Daily Responses Alzheimers Caregivers Might Try‘